Realistic Fiction

Charlie Thorne and the Curse of Cleopatra – Read It and Rate It

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Charlie Thorne and the Curse of Cleopatra Charlie Thorne #3 by Stuart Gibbs Adventure Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Charlie Thorne is on the run. Yet again. And this time, she has to avoid her step-brother, his girlfriend, their agency, and the other foreign governmental agencies. She is determined to find her way through a series of clues that Cleopatra has left behind—and these clues lead to a great treasure. … Read more

Secret Astronomers – Read It and Rate It

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The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) At Green Bank High School, a new student is led to an ancient astrophysics textbook by a note from her late mother as a high school student, After finding nothing in the book, disliking her new school, and being bored, the student begins to write and draw in the book. Eventually, another student confronts her through sticky notes … Read more

Monster – Read It and Rate It

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Monster by Walter Dean Myers Mystery Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon, a 16-year-old Black teenager from Harlem on trial for felony murder as an accomplice in a robbery that resulted in a store owner’s death. The novel is uniquely presented as a screenplay Steve is writing in his jail cell, interspersed with his personal journal entries. “Monster” is highly … Read more

Two Degrees – Read It and Rate It

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Two Degrees by Alan Gratz Realistic Fiction Thriller Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) “Two Degrees” follows three distinct storylines of young people facing the devastating immediate effects of climate change: Akira battling a massive wildfire in California, Owen and George escaping starving polar bears on the melting Canadian tundra, and Natalie struggling to survive a catastrophic hurricane in Miami. Though separated by vast distances, their harrowing survival experiences ultimately connect them and … Read more

Wrong Way Home – book review

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The Wrong Way Home By Kate O’Shaughnessy Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Frankie (Fern) and her mom (Jamie) live in an “off-the-grid, self-sustaining community” run by Dr. Ben. On the “Ranch” they eschew technology and practices that are harmful to the Earth, and chemicals that are bad for the environment. They grow their own food and make their own clothes – all under Dr. Ben’s guidance. Fern worships Dr. Ben and when … Read more

Partition Project – book review

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The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Maha is initially unenthusiastic when her Dadi (grandmother) comes from Pakistan to live with their family in the US. Not only does she have to give up her bedroom and move into the attic, but since Maha’s parents are both very busy (dad is a doctor and mom is a nutritionist) they make Maha responsible for Dadi – she is supposed … Read more

Miles Away from You – book review

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Miles Away from You by A. B. Rutledge LGBTQ+ Realistic Fiction Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Miles and Vivian were brilliant together. They created a website that attracted millions of creative, artistic people like themselves, and they were so very, very in love. But then Vivian tried to kill herself by taking too many pills and she wound up in a coma – neither dead nor alive. Her ultra-conservative parents swooped in and … Read more

How to Draw a Secret – book review

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How to Draw a Secret by Cindy Chang Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Based on Cindy Chang’s experiences growing up, “How to Draw a Secret” follows the story of a single-parent Chinese/Taiwanese family living in California. Cindy is the youngest in her family and has two older, college-age sisters. Their mom has been their sole caretaker since their baba moved back to Taiwan “for work.” Actually, Cindy isn’t sure … Read more

Bliss Adair and the First Rule of Knitting – book review

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Bliss Adair and the First Rule of Knitting by Jean Mills Realistic Fiction Romance * * * * Stars (Great!) Bliss Adair is an accomplished knitter as well as a math wiz. She spends a lot of time helping out at her folks’ yarn store, which puts her in the unfortunate position of hearing something she shouldn’t and now wishes she didn’t know. When she connects that piece of information with an acquaintance at school, … Read more

Meet Me on Mercer Street – book review

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Meet Me on Mercer Street by Booki Vivat Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Kacie goes away for the summer and when she comes home to Mercer Street she discovers her best friend Nisha has moved away and Nisha’s dad’s convenience store has been turned into a fancy modern Smart shop. Kacie is an artist and is constantly drawing what she sees, so she documents a lot of what’s going on … Read more